No. 6 Georgia defeated No. 15 Tennessee 44-41 after running back Josh McCray punched in a one-yard touchdown for an overtime victory. 

Tennessee jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter by way of quarterback Joey Aguilar’s 213 passing yards and two touchdowns. 

Georgia’s defense held the Volunteers scoreless through the rest of the half while Gunner Stockton’s offense scored ten points in the second quarter to trail 21-17 at the half. 

Bobo’s offense leaned on 13 rushing attempts during the Bulldogs’ 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half and take their first lead of the game at 24-21.

Aguilar threw his second interception of the game to KJ Bolden in the third quarter, setting Georgia up for a 48-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring to extend the lead to six points. 

Tennessee took the lead back on a 56-yard touchdown from Chris Brazzell II, who would finish the game with six receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns.

Stockton found London Humphreys on fourth down for a 28-yard touchdown with 2:32 remaining. Zachariah Branch caught the two-point attempt to tie the game.

Kicker Max Gilbert missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds to send the game to overtime. Gilbert would redeem himself on the first drive of overtime before McCray’s winning score.

“I feel almost like we have to apologize because I don’t think we should have won that game,” Kirby Smart said after the game. “But that’s the way it goes. I mean, I’ve had one against them about nine or 10 years ago that certainly went that way.” 

Takeaways

Georgia: Stockton proved that he can be an elite quarterback for the Bulldogs, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns in his first true road start. 

Tennessee: The loss marks the ninth consecutive time Tennessee has fallen to Georgia. 

Key moment

Nate Frazier’s 21-yard rush on Georgia’s lone overtime drive to put the Bulldogs inside the five, setting up a game-winning touchdown. 

Key stat

Joey Aguilar’s 213 passing yards through the first quarter are the most total yards by a Tennessee quarterback against Georgia since 2021. 

Up next

Georgia plays No. 19 Alabama on Sept. 27 in Sanford Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Tennessee will host UAB on Sept. 20 at 12:45 p.m.